Mrs. Juanita Gill Hatfield, 86, died Sept. 12, 2008, in Lewisville, TX.

She was born Feb. 14, 1922, to Willis E. and Bertha Gill. A native of North Little Rock, AR, she was a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University, and earned her master's degree at Henderson University.

A retired school guidance counselor, she worked in Little Rock Public Schools 22 years. But her favorite "profession" was her role as "pastor's wife." She and her husband of 50 years, Dr. Lawson G. Hatfield, served churches and other Baptist entities for more than 50 years, until Lawson's death in 1993.

While students at Ouachita, Lawson and Juanita began their ministry at First Baptist Church, Malvern, AR. When Lawson entered Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, he served as pastor in Rhome. The Hatfields also served Arkansas churches in Ashdown, DeQueen, Little Rock, and Fordyce. After a year at the SBC Sunday School Board in Nashville, TN, they returned to their home state where, for a quarter century, they served Arkansas Baptists when Dr. Hatfield was Director of Sunday Schools for the Arkansas Baptist Convention, especially enjoying leadership of summer camps at Siloam Springs Baptist Assembly.

After retirement, they returned to Malvern, their first home together. After Lawson's death, Juanita remained in Malvern for a decade, until she moved to Lewisville to be closer to family in 2003.

After a memorial service in Lewisville, TX, she was buried alongside her husband in Malvern Sept. 15.

Survivors include three children, Gracie Hatfield Hilton, Arlington, TX; Lawson Gerald (Jerry) Hatfield, and his wife, Carolyn, Arlington, VA; Stephen G. Hatfield, PhD, and his wife, Marcie, Lewisville, TX; eight grandchildren; three great grandchildren; and two brothers, Jim Gill, Colleyville, TX; and Bill Gill, Little Rock, AR.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Dr. Lawson & Juanita Hatfield Memorial Scholarship (benefiting students at Ouachita Baptist University); c/o First Baptist Church; 531 South Main; Malvern, AR 72104.